FMI – The Food Industry Association has announced that José Andrés – chef, humanitarian and founder of World Central Kitchen – will join FMI CEO Leslie G. Sarasin for a keynote conversation during the 2025 Midwinter Executive Conference, which is set for Jan. 30-Feb. 2 on Marco Island, Florida.
According to FMI, the food retail industry an Andrés are united by a common mission: delivering safe, nutritious food that enriches lives. Each operates on a global stage and has been on the frontline of humanitarian responses.
The discussion at FMI’s event, titled “A Conversation with Chef José Andrés,” will explore these shared values, discussing the opportunities, leadership challenges and perspectives that Andrés brings to feeding families in the U.S. and around the world.
“José Andrés is a remarkable figure, a renaissance man whose work is equally influential across culinary innovation, humanitarian relief and global food policy,” Sarasin said.
“Restaurateurs, grocers and food manufacturers share a mission to feed families and enrich lives. I look forward to the valuable perspectives that will surface in our conversation as we discuss current challenges, future opportunities and ways to master the momentum in our ever-evolving sector.”
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Twice named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People,” Andrés is known for his impact on the culinary world and commitment to humanitarian efforts. As the founder and executive chairman of José Andrés Group, which operates nearly 40 restaurants, he is credited with popularizing Spanish cuisine in the U.S. and advancing food culture through multiple TV shows and his media ventures.
In 2010, Andrés founded World Central Kitchen (WCK), a nonprofit that provides meals in response to humanitarian and climate crises. It delivered more than 3.6 million meals in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, and has partnered with Ukrainian restaurants and volunteers to serve hundreds of millions of meals during the ongoing conflict. In 2023, Andrés established the Global Food Institute at George Washington University to advance research and innovation in food policies and technologies.
About FMI
As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings together a range of members across the value chain – from retailers that sell to consumers, to producers that supply food and other products, as well as the wide variety of companies providing critical services – to amplify the collective work of the industry.
